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WCVE/WHTJ Passport / WVPT Passport FAQ

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What is WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ Passport?

PBS Passport is a membership benefit from WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ PBS that gives eligible supporters extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming online.

Which programs are available on WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ Passport?

The PBS Passport library features both national PBS and select local programming from WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ PBS. Popular national programs include the American Experience, American Masters, Antiques Roadshow, Nature, NOVA, and Masterpiece — including all six seasons of Downton Abbey. In addition to these signature series, the library is full of public television’s acclaimed arts, science, history, and lifestyle programs; including How We Got to Now, Earth a New Wild, Austin City Limits, and a rotating selection of films from Ken Burns.

Who is eligible for WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ Passport?

WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ PBS members who donate at least $60 a year or $5 ongoing-monthly gifts are eligible for PBS Passport.

How do I access WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ Passport?

You can access PBS Passport by being an eligible supporter of WVPT or WCVE/WHTJ PBS.

If you are a first-time supporter or a member who is not yet eligible, become an eligible member by making a tax-deductible contribution of $60 annually or $5 ongoing-monthly gifts to WVPT or WCVE/WHTJ PBS online.

After your donation is processed successfully, you will receive an email with your PBS Passport Activation Code.

If you are already an eligible member of WVPT or WCVE/WHTJ PBS and have not received an email with your PBS Passport Activation Code, please contact 804-320-1301 (WCVE) or 434-202-1194 (WVPT/WHTJ).

How do I activate my WVPT & WCVE/WHTJ Passport account?

Follow these steps to activate your PBS Passport account.

After you have received an email from WVPT or WCVE/WHTJ PBS with your PBS Passport Activation Code, go to this link. Your activation code is a series of four words that are each separated by a dash. (Example: cat-dog-bird-horse)

Enter your Activation Code and click “Continue”.

You'll then be asked to sign-in with a Facebook, Google, or a PBS account. If you already have one of those three accounts, you can click your respective option and sign in with your account. If you are not sure if you have a PBS account or would like to set one up, you can click the option “Don’t have a PBS Account? Create one now” on the right side of the page.

After signing in, you will see a notice asking you to confirm your account information for PBS Passport. Select the Checkbox and click “Confirm”.

Your activation is complete and you can begin watching PBS Passport videos.

How do I check the status of my PBS Passport account?

The Passport Lookup Tool can help you quickly find the status of your PBS Passport membership benefit. Simply enter your contact email address you provided to your station and click the green "Find Member" button to search for your account.

Can I watch PBS Passport on my smart TV or other media streaming devices?*

The following is a list of smart TVs and TV devices that support PBS Passport content:

Desktop computers and laptops using the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer

If I do not have PBS Passport, will I be able to watch shows on PBS.org and my station's site?

Yes. Free content can be streamed online at https://www.pbs.org/shows/and at https://ideastations.org/tvwithout requiring a PBS Passport benefit. And of course, PBS shows will continue to be broadcast to the public over the air. PBS Passport is a membership benefit that allows you extended access to some shows when their streaming rights have expired or they have otherwise become unavailable for general streaming. PBS Passport only content is identified with a blue Passport logo in the upper left-hand corner of the video, as seen here:

Experiencing technical difficulties with PBS Passport?

Go to https://help.pbs.org/support/homefor additional support and resources or stop by the WVPT WHTJ PBS office (225 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902) during our public hours on Tuesdays (10 AM-3:00 PM), Wednesdays & Thursdays (12:00 PM-5:00 PM), and Fridays (1:00 PM-6:00 PM). Questions? Connect with us at 434-202-1194 or wvptwhtj@ideastations.org